Causes of pododermatitis in rabbits
Rabbit breeders know that pododermatitis is their most common condition. It is the formation of ulcers on the limbs of animals. The risk group primarily includes young individuals at the age of 3 months, overweight pussies, as well as old animals. Let's figure out what pododermatitis in rabbits is and what are the features of its treatment.
Pododermatitis in rabbits
Where does it come from
The main cause of the disease is the unsuitable sex in the rabbits' habitat. Mesh, rigid floorings, rugs, masonry are categorically unsuitable. If the cage has one of the above types of floors, then problems cannot be avoided. Poor care and unsanitary conditions of detention, insufficient amount of fur on the paws, too long claws, which lead to the appearance of calluses - all this is also included in the range of causes of the onset of the disease.
A sedentary lifestyle and, as a result, obesity, high humidity, which prevents the healing of wounds and injuries, lack of balanced nutrition and poor immunity - a number of factors influencing the onset of the disease can be enumerated endlessly.
The veterinarian will prescribe treatment for pododermatitis only after he has accurately established the diagnosis, excluding the possibility that this is some other disease. A person needs to react quickly, and in the future - follow all the recommendations of a specialist.
The main symptoms
The main signs of pododermatitis in rabbits are various injuries of the paws in the form of ulcers and erosions, and the disease is also manifested by the refusal of the animal from food and the depletion of the body. Looking closely, you can easily notice peeling of the skin and blood flowing from the affected areas. This will be followed by loss of fur and noticeable damage to the skin by parasites. You need to understand how important it is to contact a specialist in a timely manner, who will tell you how to properly treat the animal, otherwise the animal will simply die.
The disease is accompanied by an increase in body temperature and suppuration of the pads of the feet, which has a negative effect on the general condition of the fluffy rodent. Superficial lesions are characterized by transparent, gray discharge from the wounds, and strong purulent formations are light yellow. As soon as the symptoms become noticeable, you need to immediately go to the doctor until the moment is missed and you can still save the pet's life.
How does the disease develop
There are 4 stages of development of pododermatitis:
- The early stage is manifested by superficial skin lesions and, if you start treating immediately, everything goes away easily and quickly.
- The period of development of purulent pododermatitis. If you act at this stage without delay and give medicine on time, the disease will be cured.
- The healing process will take longer and more difficult if the transition of the disease to the third stage is allowed, when the infection penetrates into the tissues. In such a situation, sometimes it is necessary to resort to surgical intervention, and after a while the risk of recurrence remains.
- The most dangerous thing for a rabbit is deep penetration, which can damage the bones and tendons of the animal. It is almost impossible to predict how the treatment will end at this stage.
It is easier to cure the animal if you notice the symptoms at the earliest stages. The basis of therapy is antibiotics in the form of injections and local action, and you also need to do constant bandaging of the affected limbs. More accurate recommendations and selection of drugs can only be carried out by an experienced doctor. If there is a suspicion of pododermatitis in rabbits, treatment should be urgent. If purulent formations appear, they must be carefully cleaned and the wound treated with a solution of hydrogen peroxide, while remembering that suppuration is likely to occur again, which means that more than one treatment will be required. Every day it is required to carefully examine a sick animal and carry out procedures.
Of the local preparations, the Ranodez spray has proven itself well, which is applied to the cleaned wound 1-2 times a day, as well as ointments such as Livomikol, Vishnevsky, Rescuer and others. They stop blood and relieve inflammation. Of the antibiotics, Bitsilin and Baytril are popular in solving this problem. It is also possible to use traditional methods of treatment, for example, you can wash the wounds with a decoction of calendula. Herbs such as shepherd's purse, nettle, and plantain will help stop bleeding. They just need to be added to food.
Prophylaxis
Pododermatitis is a rather serious disease that is difficult to treat, and the drugs themselves are not cheap. That is why it makes sense to prevent its appearance:
- do not breed those breeds of rabbits that have a predisposition to the disease;
- separate the sick animal from all the others;
- do not forget to control the cleanliness, temperature and humidity in the cage;
- be sure to provide rabbits with a soft bedding of straw or hay;
- subject to a wooden floor in the place where pets are kept, at least once a month, process it with lime.
In no case should you self-medicate; you need to seek help from veterinarians the sooner, the better. When it comes to domestic rabbits, experts say that there is nothing worse for them than synthetic carpets and linoleum. They are capable of causing the development of pododermatitis. A cotton cover is perfect for them, and it is very easy to ensure this: it is enough to cover the old sheets during the walk of the pet, and then remove them. It is cheaper than treatment.
Those who prefer to walk their pet in the fresh air should be careful about what kind of surfaces it moves on, avoiding sand, asphalt and pebbles. Preference should be given to the lawn or just the ground. The disease itself, although so dangerous for animals, does not threaten a person with anything. In the sense that the meat of such rabbits is suitable for consumption, except for areas affected by the disease. Pododermatitis in fluffy rabbits is a problem that can and should be dealt with!